Basic lens for K1

I have a collection of old manual focus lenses some "A" and some just "M" from 18mm to 135mm. However my AF lenses range from 90mm to 500mm. I need suggestions as to what is the best? lens to get as a basic everyday lens in the 18mm to say 90/105/135 AF range. It does not have to be F2.8 all the way. Any experience any advice please. This is all for FF for my K1.
CHEERS Vic.

I've got that range sort of covered for the K-1 by two older lenses I got second hand. A Sigma 17-35mm f2.8-f4 and a Tamron 28-105 f4-f5.6 so far so good I'd say.

Hi Vic, there's no single zoom for FF to cover all of that. I think you're heading towards a 2-lens solution.

(Edit ....Barrie beat my post with his older Sigma/Tamron film era options.... There will always be debate about the quality of older zooms for the K1, so go with reviews and user feedback like Barries.... Of course they could be hard to find ...)


The obvious 1st choice is the D FA28-105. Not really any argument about that.

There's an FA18-35 , but hard to come by .....

I'm assuming the D FA15-30 is not suitable, unless you're looking for something big, heavy and expensive ?

There's a Sigma "Art" lens, I think it may also be 18-35mm .... But also expensive, and I have read concerns about it's autofocussing.

Otherwise, perhaps get a wide prime (eg Samyang 14mm, Irex 15mm) and crop in if needed. ...

.(another edit! ....I realise you wanted AF, but the best ultra wide primed are manual focus. It shouldn't matter at such wide angles, but I do admit that trying to see things in focus through the code finder with the Samyang 14mm can be frustrating. I find though I shouldn't worry, just set F8-F16, get it near enough, and the shots themselves are razor sharp. For very close work it's usually easier to see focus clearly.)

Can you get a decent 28-300mm for Pentax. That's all Jay Maisel uses on a Nikon.

Watch this video to see how to take photos

https://members.kelbyone.com/lesson/i-am-trying-to-go-out-empty/

Gallery
https://studio.jaymaisel.com/collections/portfolio
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I agree. I think it produces superb results. Far better than some of my old FA lenses like the FA28-105 and FA28-200.

Glyn

28-300 is easier perhaps with the other brands .... But we don't recommend "superzooms" here at PU, do we?? This is for serious, discerning photographers, right, who don't stretch their compromises that far ......?

Vic asked about 18-135mm, much more challenging on FF.

I forgot before to suggest the highly regarded FA20-35 .... Well proven on the K1, but also hard to find.

Sorry, another correction... The 18-35 I referred to before is an FAJ designation, not FA.

After useing the 24/70 on the k1 its fin bottom end but I would say 28/105 think it works out the same as the 17/70 cropped

I don't see why Pentax photographers can't use focal lengths that real photographers use. 135mm on FF means you need to carry another lens to go beyond 135mm. We are probably restricted to a Tamron 28-300mm at about £150 SH.

Over 51,000 photos on Flickr show that it's capable and popular amongst people who photograph a wide range of subjects including macro.

http://www.flickriver.com/search/tamron+28-300mm/interesting/
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It looks like the considered opinion is the 28-105. A bit pricey but if I save my pension pennies and I sell my K3 then that's the one I think I'll get.
Yes I said "IF" I sell my K3. What does anyone think about K3 + DBG5 + 2 batteries boxed with all acc.s bought from SRS 2014. Perfect condition. £500.00.
If anyone is interested I can post some pics.
CHEERS Vic.

i picked up the equivalent old but usable tamron on for less than £70 vic at LCE in bristol

What is the point of buying a K1 and then sticking an old Tamron zoom onto it? ....

Could the end results of that actually be better than just sticking with an APS-C kit anyway ...?

(deliberately provocative comment fully intended).

I use a Pentax 24 - 70 F2.8, then I resort to some older, but well capable lenses such as the Sigma 70 - 200 F2.8, a Sigma 100 - 300 F4 and a Pentax 150 - 450 for wildlife, thee is a little crossover in there but it works, then wide I go for as Nigel's has suggested a Samyang 14mm F2.8..

For my K1 I have the 24-70 and the 28-105; the latter is my favourite general shooting lens and the IQ is pretty much as good as the 24-70 .

However, in all but the extreme ranges ( aperture and focal length ) the APS 18-135 matches them both.

Hence as I have posted many times, my travel and walk about set up is the K3 and the 18-135

It is seriously good.

I hope Pentax can make a full frame 18-135 that matches the IQ of the current APS Version

I wholly agree with the comment from Nigel, there is no point in buying a K1 and mounting older " non- optimal" lenses on it

Regards

Vic, the D-FA 28-105 is a super lens (and I use it regularly on APS-C) so, if you're not in a mad rush to buy, why not wait for the next round of special offers, e.g. from SRS. The next 'Black Friday' is not that far away! On a K-1, you could use it to get closer by cropping the image in PP and, if you need a wider field for a static subject, make a composite from 2, 3, or 4 images.

Cheers.
Philip

I remember the excellent discussion a few years ago, when the K1 was still in development, about the optimisations in modern DA type lenses, and the great information you provided Daron about the angle of incidence and how light reached the digital sensor.

Of course we can't all go out and buy the new DFA lenses (although the 28-105 I think is the most realistic for the average person), so clearly there will be some reliance on film era choices. I guess most of those mentioned here above have proven their worth in practice, although probably without the most close pixel-peeping intensity.

Philip is also right .... Look at me, I gladly spent money on the D FA28-105 (although happily at the SRS discounted price) before I even consider a new camera. That lens plus my flash equipment has produced more IQ bang per buck from the K7 than a camera upgrade ever could!